Page 30 of Ruled By Fate

She regarded him carefully, pouring herself some coffee with sugar and cream before settling on a stool by the counter. The sweet scent of caffeine wafted into her face as she took the first sip.

“Alright, angel. Talk.”

He hesitated, but she persisted. “Was that a nightmare or not? Was I dreaming, or was that some kind of… of vision quest gone terribly wrong? You knew that place, Cam. And you asked what those creatures said. So, they’re real?”

He drew in a breath. “They are.”

Her eyes widened, but she held it together. “And the man?” she asked quietly, wishing very much she could simply forget. “The man I saw? The one who looked like a human? Is he a real person?”

“I’m not sure,” he admitted quietly.

She tossed her hair over her shoulder with growing impatience.

“There are many sons of Hell, Brianna. Many who can take human form or any form they wish. Many who would be interested in that pendant.” He raked back his hair with sudden frustration. “Though why they would suddenly be searching is as much a mystery to me as to you.”

She exhaled slowly, staring down into her cup.

Not good enough.

There was a chance he could read minds.

“Give me some time,” he said gently. “I know it’s a lot to ask, and I know you’ve been waiting for answers far longer than seems fair. I do not have all the answers you seek, but I might know some people who do. Give me some time to speak with them, to try to help me figure this out.”

She looked up at him. “And what am I supposed to do in the meantime?”

With a tentative grin, he gestured around the house. “Fill up the fridge. Buy some furniture. Start your job. Throw away that dead plant you’ve been carting around.”

She jutted out her chin defiantly. “It’s not dead. It’s resting. Recuperating. And with all the supplements I’ve been feeding it, I’m sure it’ll make a marvelous comeback.”

He nodded without a hint of expression. “Perhaps I didn’t make this clear when I explained my job description, but I am absolutely an expert in these matters. Your plant, Brianna, is gone.”

She opened her mouth to argue, then peered in delight over the rim of her coffee mug. “Cam? Did you just make a joke?”

He blushed and turned around, pretending to wipe down the already immaculate counter, replaying the sound of the nickname in his mind.

“Cam?” she pressed.

“You should get that.”

“Get what?”

The doorbell rang, and she nearly jumped out of her skin.

Oh, God… Sherry.

She still hadn’t gotten her story straight between the move, the Mormons, and the dream. A rush of panic swept over her before she turned on her heel and sprinted for the door, yelling, “Coming!”

She considered telling Cameron to hide, but there was no time. The windows were too big, and there was no way for him to cross to the bedroom without being seen. She had to count on the fact that her terrible luck would break, and her best friend would hardly notice.

Because that’s totally going to happen. Because she’s super, SUPER low-key.

Brie opened the door and was greeted by a whoop of delight. “FINALLY!”

The friends crashed into each other with enough force to dent a car. Arms flailed and hair knotted as they started bouncing in a strange two-person tangle on the front porch.

“I can’t believe you’re here!” Sherry squealed. “After all these months. And I can’t believe you didn’t get here sooner! Here, have a coffee.” She grabbed a drink tray she’d left resting on the porch railing and offered it up.

Brie gratefully accepted an enormous white mocha as her friend swept inside, taking a slow turn around the living room, studying the most insignificant details with an appraising eye.

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